Match Report

Leverstock Green came back from an early two-goal deficit, but a strong second half from Royston Town saw them take control again and win this Herts Charity Cup second round tie.

The game was less than a minute old when the visitors took the lead. A low free kick into the box went through everybody and was finished from close range by Edu Toiny-Pendred. The fourth minute saw Royston go 2-0 up. Harry Way appeared to have both hands on the ball from a corner, but it somehow came out of his hands, and in the ensuing scramble a shot from Jamie Judge seemed to have been saved by Way but the referee adjudged that the ball had crossed the line.

Leverstock needed a goal back quickly, and they got one in the 8th minute. A great pass from Oliver Glimas put Iker Noguera Leon in behind the defence, and he squared the ball for Jeffrey Sekyere to slot home from six yards.

Leverstock continued to settle into the game and they levelled the scores in the 17th minute. A shot from Sekyere was parried away by the keeper, but Josh Dooley put the loose ball nack into the six-yard box where Noguera Leon stabbed home the equaliser.

Way produced a great save down low in the 25th minute to keep out a shot, and saved again from corners in the 30th and 35th minutes. In the last minute of the half Leverstock almost went in front. Sekyere showed some great footwork in the box before putting Noguera Leon in on goal, but his shot was slotted just wide of the post.

The second half started off evenly-contested, but Royston went back in front in the 55th minute through a stunning long-range strike from Thomas Avgoustidis than gave Way no chance as it flew into the top corner. Eight minutes later Royston produced a swift counter-attack which ended with Harrison Rookard shooting home to put his side firmly in control at 4-2.

Leverstock had no answer this time and a further goal from Rookard in the 80th minute sealed the tie.

Leverstock Green (2) 2 (Sekyere 8, Noguera Leon 17)
1. Harry Way, 2. Dan Casey (14. Ethan Mooney 54 mins), 3. Aldo Petagine, 4. Josh Dooley, 5. Tunde Akinpelu, 6. Oliver Glimas (12. Justin Dass 61 mins), 7. Juan Pablo Velasco, 8. John Gyabaah (19. Joel Onu 67 mins), 9. Jeffrey Sekyere, 10. Nat Connolly (16. Dan Pett 54 mins), 11. Iker Noguera Leon (15. Kai Nemoto 67 mins).
Royston Town (2) 5 (Toiny-Pendred 1, Judge 4, Avgoustidis 55, Rookard 63, 80)
13. Reuben Rabstein, 2. Yousef Chentouf, 5. Jamie Judge, 6. Archie Locke, 7. Jake Emmett (15. Jack Davis 66 mins), 14. Luke Warner-Eley (8. Franco Ciuffa 66 mins), 16. Jordon Frederick, 17. Edu Toiny-Pendred (23. Aeron Alexander 85 mins), 18. Harrison Rookard, 12. Tom Newman, 21. Thomas Avgoustidis (19. Ransford Ofori 82 mins). Sub not used: 22. Jamie Head.